Sheila Keen Warren has pleaded not guilty to the charge that she was the clown costume-wearing assailant who shot to death a Wellington woman 27 years ago.

Keen Warren, 54, also waived her right to be arraigned on the first-degree murder with a firearm charge and requested a jury trial, according to a filing by her attorney on Thursday. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

The southwest Virginia woman is being held on no bond at the Palm Beach County Jail, following her first appearance before a judge Wednesday. She was arrested near her home on Sept. 26, about a month after a grand jury indictment concerning the May 26, 1990 slaying of Marlene Warren, 40.

The defendant and the victim share the same last name but they were not related. Keen Warren is married to Michael Warren – he was Marlene’s husband when she died. The case went cold until 2014, when detectives took a fresh look at DNA evidence.

Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said last week the murder investigation remains open. Michael Warren, originally identified as a person of interest, has not been charged.

Defense attorney Richard Lubin says after he learns the facts of the case he could file a request for Keen Warren to receive bond, and be released to house arrest.

“In Florida, judges have discretion to grant bail in a first-degree murder case, depending on the strength or weakness of the case,” Lubin told reporters.

Bradshaw and State Attorney Dave Aronberg said the arrest came as a result of the DNA link and recent witness interviews.

They did not offer any specifics about the evidence, and there is no arrest report filed in the case that outlines what led to the charge.

Detectives say Marlene Warren answered the door to her home in the Aero Club community to accept a bouquet and two balloons from a clown wearing an orange wig, a red bulb nose, gloves and a smile painted on its white face.

Immediately, the clown fired at Warren’s face. She died within two days.

The clown fled in a white Chrysler LeBaron, which was found four days later abandoned at a shopping center parking lot. Keen Warren, who was 27 at the time, also was labeled a suspect back then but was not charged.